Protein Purifier Saves Time, Money

Two MSU researchers have invented a protein purifier that could help pharmaceutical companies save time and money.

MSU chemists Merlin Bruening and Greg Baker explain in a recent issue of Langmuir that high-performance membranes are suitable for protein purification, a crucial step in the development of some drugs.

Purifying proteins, the process of isolating a single, desired protein, is expensive and time-consuming, but a necessary step to increasing the effectiveness and safety of new drugs. Streamlining the process could help manufacturers reduce costs, speed new drugs to consumers and reduce pharmaceutical costs, Bruening says.

“The membrane devices that we’ve manufactured can simplify protein purification by rapidly capturing the desired protein as it flows through membrane pores,” says Bruening, who has patented the process. “Our membranes have two to three times more capacity than existing commercial devices, and they should reduce the purification process time substantially. Typically, our procedures are complete in 30 minutes or less.”